Forbidden Planet Flying Saucer for Sale!
It looks like today some lucky fanboy collector will be walking away with the model of the flying saucer from the 1956 classic science fiction film Forbidden Planet. The model was later used on several episodes of the Twilight Zone TV series as well:
“A Calabasas, Calif., auction company called Profiles in History hopes to auction Ellis’ spaceship for $80,000 to $120,000 on Thursday. The auctioneer also hopes to sell Luke Skywalker’s light saber from “The Empire Strikes Back,” among other Hollywood treasures.”
Here’s a full description from the auction house:
“(MGM, 1956) This incredible piece was believed to have been lost forever, only to be recently “discovered” since being sold in 1970 at the MGM auction. This is the principle filming miniature used in the groundbreaking 1956 science fiction classic, Forbidden Planet. Constructed of wood, steel and fiberglass, this silver ship is a marvel of 1950s engineering. The central landing base extends from the bottom of the craft by internal movement mechanisms with electric motor drive, as does the ladder and two conveyer-loading ramps. One of the most dramatic scenes in the film is when the C-57D lands on planet Altair IV and the appendages unfold. Following its use in Forbidden Planet, MGM pressed this ship back into service in six episodes of The Twilight Zone, which demanded use of a space ship. The top central dome has been faithfully recreated per the original blueprints from the film; otherwise, the craft remains in its original condition. The significance of this science fiction filming miniature cannot be overstated. An icon among icons.”
And here’s the famous saucer in action from a trailer for Forbidden Planet: